Hardwood flooring is popular feature in many homes but it is not without drawbacks. Hardwood covers a variety of flooring including strip, plank and parquet.
The Pros-
- Hardwood is easy to maintain. Hardwood is durable and stands the test of time. Some homes even have 100 year old flooring in their homes because proper care and maintenance was used. Hardwood needs to be swept or vacuumed and cleaned with a mop occasionally making they very low maintenance.
- The value of hardwood flooring is also a big benefit. Home buyers are generally more drawn to homes with hardwood and can help your home sell for more money. Builders consider hardwood an upgrade and buyers do as well.
- Finally, the available styles are a great benefit of hardwood flooring. You can find a species and stain to fit your homes style. And if you style changes over time you can change the look by adding a stain or changing the stain.
The Cons-
- The cost of hardwood can be a big drawback. Installing hardwood isn’t cheap but more homeowners thing it is worth it because of the increased value and appeal for their home.
- Also, the occasional refinishing is a con for some homeowners. Hardwood doesn’t need much weekly or even yearly maintenance but ever few years it does need to be refinished. This process will disrupt your lifestyle for a few days and does have some additional cost. Depending on the type of coating or finish you use will affect how frequently you need to resurface your floor.
- Finally, hardwood is nosier than carpet. If you live in a two story home you may want to think twice about adding hardwood to the upper floor. Rugs can help muffle the noise but it can still be a concern for some people.
In the end you have to decide if hardwood is the right option for you and your needs. There are pros and cons to any flooring. WE find that hardwood is great for many homes as it adds warmth and that perfect feeling under our feet. Hardwood is simply – Timeless.